Ep. 3.23 Joseph *SEASON FINALE*

[TVFan]

WHEN A POPULAR DRUG COUNSELOR'S DEBIT CARD IS USED ONE YEAR AFTER HIS MURDER, LILLY AND THE TEAM REOPEN THE 2005 CASE, ON THE THIRD SEASON FINALE, OF "COLD CASE," SUNDAY, MAY 21

Roxannn Dawson directed the episode that was written by Andrea Newman and Liz W. Garcia.

Lilly Rush: Kathryn Morris
John Stillman: John Finn
Nick Vera: Jeremy Ratchford
Will Jeffries: Thom Barry
Scotty Valens: Danny Pino
Kat Miller: Tracie Thoms
Joseph: Kenneth Johnson
Jane Holden: Susan Walters
Ted Holden: Sam Anderson
Corey: Steven Grayhm
Crystal: Mageina Tovah
Orlando: Ramon Camacho
Wilder: John Hillard
Reba Dautry: Dale Dickey
Lawyer: Ben Hermes


After you view this episode, be sure to vote for it above. Also, leave a post with your thoughts.

[Naj]

ARE ya getting excited about the big finale?

*no spoilers until it airs*

[eurache]

This episode thread is now open. Please make your vote and your opinion about this night Finale episode

[eurache]

It wasn't a "Woods" episode which was the best for a finale. This episode was a little different. More of Lilly this time, but kind of weird and different.

It was the first time I saw Lilly not being herself. She called in sick and I thought for sure Stillman was going to kick her off. I don't know what punishment will be for her for lieing to her group, I just hope it's not a deskjob.

It seems Lilly might have a new love interest now. She did seem happy at the end when she went to visit her new "friend." Maybe Joseph will help see something and have her understand her mother's illness of alcholism. Will this new fond interest continue in Season 4? who knows?

Like I said, it was quite different this time. Not a shocker like the other shows are doing.

Will we see a different side of Lilly? I guess we will know when the new Season starts in the Fall.

Night all... it was a great chat last night and I hope to see more opinions on this episode. Should be interesting.

[eurache]

ooopsss I'm sorry I thought I unlocked this post last night

[TVFan]

This is a tough one to vote for because it was definitely a tale of two elements. The Lilly stuff gets excellent, if not best of the season, but the case was barely OK. Lilly's story came at the expense of the case, but I am totally OK with that because I was completely wrapped up in her story. In fact, I'm going to ignore the case in this post because of its gaping plot holes (No fingerprint ID on the victim? Joseph had a record, and therefore, would have had prints on file and everyone would have known that the victim wasn't him) and really, it didn't matter. The entire hour could have focused on Lilly, Joseph, and the most compelling element - her mistake and I would have been completely fine.

Wow, there is so much to say. I LOVED that Lil made that huge mistake. It was completely within her character, and it made me nervous, happy, disappointed, scared and every other emotion along the gamut. It was so well written and equally well played. Kathryn did an excellent job (as usual ), and I was also impressed with John Finn's performance when Stillman yelled at Lilly. I felt so bad for her, and yet, I completely agreed with Stillman. She just assumed that Joseph was telling her the truth about his foster brother, and luckily for her, he was. But what if he had been responsible for the murder and run off after she went to his house? Her actions would have allowed a murderer to go free, so what she did was about as serious as you can get. She allowed herself to think with her feelings instead of her police instinct, and it almost cost her her career (thankfully, Joseph showed up and spared her from more trouble). What amazed me the most about this story was the way that she didn't let her mistake get in the way of how she felt. She actually somewhat admitted how she felt about Joseph to both him and Scotty! I LOVED it!

I also loved that she and Scotty are back to being friends. It was like their relationship has come full circle finally, and it made me smile. I appreciated Scotty's understanding and the unwritten, unspoken dialog between them. And you just know that Lilly knows that there is more to the story about how he injured his hand, but she left it alone because she was in her own precarious position.

I like Joseph. He seems like a good match for Lilly and a great person. I'm hoping that the scene in the closing montage was simply the beginning of a relationship between these two. I really want the writers to bring us along for the journey next season as well.

Speaking of next season, the ending left us with plenty to ponder for season 4. Will Stillman be able to look past Lilly's mistake and see her the same way again? It looked like he was still disappointed when the gang went out for drinks (minus Lilly) as he looked at her empty chair. I think it was a mixture of disappointment in her and remorse over the fact that their relationship may never be fixed. Will Lilly get punished? She should, but I hope Stillman keeps it internal since the case wound up getting solved. There's no need in involving the higher-ups. Everyone had made their mistakes (although none as bad as Lilly's, but close) and served their punishments, so Lilly should do the same. Will Lilly continue her thing with Joseph? The two seem to be extremely compatible and I'd love to see them pursue this story next season.

Overall, an episode filled with wonderful Lilly development and well crafted scenes. It was nice to end the season on a high note like this with Lilly back in the center of the show's focus, where she should always be.

BTW, I have a special Finale Blowout edition of Pass The Remote featuring CC posted now. It includes screen caps and video from three different scenes. You guys can check it out HERE.

[Naj]

i only have just a few minutes today. this was a great ep. thanks to the two writers and directors for giving such an excellent effort. i hope to see all around good writing, directing and cast as well as more time for lilly centered cases for season 4. she's been sorely and obviously overlooked in season three.

[sonny]

Eeeeek, thanks TVFan and Naj, you've made me look forward to seeing the ep even more, and I will predict now that I'll have the same opinion as TVFan! Girl, you always make so much sense to me!! ;D ;D

Now over to pass the remote!!

[atrayuh2]

Oh my, am I in the minority and I'll probably get flamed. At first I thought maybe it was just that I had a long day and wasn't really into it....but I really didn't find myself into it.

For me, it was an ok episode, but it wasn't what I had in mind as a season finale...to me it lacked....chemistry.

And I'm not just saying chemistry between Lily and Joseph, but the whole story...the dialogue in most parts (with the exception of the Stillman/Lily and the silent scene of First Thursday)...it just didn't flow.

Maybe it's because while I enjoy looking into the detectives' characters of a show from time to time, I prefer the story and the characters of a case. I don't know, maybe it's because when they start delving to deep as they've done on other shows, particularly the romance area, it divides a lot of viewers and takes away from the stories.

As you can tell I'm not that much of a shipper, so I couldn't buy this lily/joseph connection. No offense, but I saw ZERO chemistry between the actors. I don't know, maybe we are supposed to find and feel this pairing and Lily's character a little off from now on.

Grade: C--

[sonny]

Surely just the fact that Kathryn Morris is in it makes an episode good. Is there really THAT much to dislike about it? I really don't understand But then I guess it depends on what you watch the show for. I guess I just find it bizarre that people who like a show enough to visit a forum about it can ever hate an episode?? Each to their own though.

[soccerulz]

TVFan: Sheesh, what can I say? I had this whole thing all thought out, all ready to go - and when I got over here to type it up, I realized you already said everything that I feel! ;D I really loved it. I really did. I thought it was great, and I love this Joseph guy. I loved how Lilly made a mistake, and a big one at that. I mean, gosh darnnit, we all make mistakes.

hhmm....what else? I loved the Lilly/Scotty bit. At least, I'm glad they are back to being friends. I didn't like all the 'tension' between them, and I'm glad the air has been cleared.

what I will say about the case: I didn't suspect the killer, at all. And I LOVED the recovering drug addict Crystal (or what it christine? I can't remember). She was just....I don't know. So random. My favorite exchange from the whole episode was when Lilly said to her 'You know that guitar doesn't have any strings, right?'

[michelle]

I really disliked the episode. It seemed the whole thing was scripted in order to give Lilly a love interest in 60 minutes, regardless of how much it put her out of character. I mean, come on, she's got her gun drawn on this guy, he says he didn't kill anyone so she says, well ok then, ya know I do feel like we've met before, and starts chatting about how she can fix everything for him. Please!!! And what police department in the country is going to find a man killed with his face shot off and just ASSUME it's the guy who lived in the apartment where the body was found. Right, dead body in this guy's apartment and for a year the police just figure it's the guy on the lease. Am I alone in this or did it seem a gratuitious piece of scripting to anyone else? Gosh, I HATE the way they turned Lilly into just some dumb woman as soon as a cute guy shows up not dead. That is not the Lilly the show has been developing for 3 seasons.

[michelle]

Sonny, I do need to add, of course, that your comment goes without saying:
"Surely just the fact that Kathryn Morris is in it makes an episode good."

[sonny]

I'm all for having your own opinions but hello, do people not think about what has gone on in the past when considering the incidences in this episode. Lilly is lonely and doesn't want to be any more! For starters that is gonna make her more suceptable to falling for someone who seems to be similar to her. She's assumed because he is like her, he will understand her and there won't be problems there was with Kite and Ray. She was clearly in turmoil over having these feelings for Joseph and rather than it turning her into a 'dumb' woman I think it just severly clouded her judgement. The same thing happened to Scotty with Christina and Ana, remember.
The photo thing is normal, we know that, it's just the extent to her feelings that is different in this case. I think Lilly is ready for a relationship and this guy actually seems pretty nice.

I still really don't see how anyone can justify her as being out of character when her character has NEVER been in a situation like this before. Gah, Lilly would be awfully boring if she didn't make mistakes or was a cold hearted bi*ch who was never interested in a guy throughout the whole run of the show. She's NOT out of character, her character is DEVELOPING!! In this episode, unlike Dog Day Afternoon, she is calling herself crazy and is clearly identifying that she is displayingh something she never has before. To me that isn't out of character. She's reacting to what has been going on inside her; her desire to not be alone and to change. I think it's nice that she seems to be able to try and make herself happy by letting herself trust someone. Lilly certainly deserves that!!

Yeah there may be plot holes in the case, but there often is and not just in this show.

I certainly appreciate that as the season finale the show had left us with a huge portion of Lilly, something a lot of us have been complaining there has been a lack of this season.

[tiger_lilly]

sonny said:

She's NOT out of character, her character is DEVELOPING!!

Yeah there may be plot holes in the case, but there often is and not just in this show.

I certainly appreciate that as the season finale the show had left us with a huge portion of Lilly, something a lot of us have been complaining there has been a lack of this season.

I haven't seen this episode yet but I can still agree with sonny on all of this. I don't really understand the whole obsession with people wanting the show to be they way it was in season 1. Every show has to develop and therefore the characters in it change too. I guess we all just have to get used to a different Lilly who acts in new ways...or just turn off the tv.

Sorry didn't mean to sound pissy...have just had these thoughts for a while.

[witchykitty]

Hi all! New here. Been watching Cold Case since the beginning. I always thought it was a pretty good show. Last nights episode was pretty good although the storyline was seemed forced. Glad to see Lilly have a personal life tho.

I'm a huge fan of Kenny Johnson, who played Joseph. Kenny played a cop named "Lem" on 'The Shield' but was killed off by one of his best friends (who was also a cop) in the mid-season finale. He's pretty hot. Check him out:

www.witchykitty.net/images/kj/kj1.bmp

Anyway, I sent in a note to CBS thanking them for casting Kenny as Joseph. Hope he'll be back next season!

[sonny]

witchyykitty. I hope he'll be back next season too!!

[ruda]

he's cute! not like RAY, but cute! ;D

[toddsmitts]

I noticed a few familiar faces among the guest cast:

Sam Anderson (Ted Holden, the jealous husbad): He's one of those great character actors who's been in everything though few know his name. You probably know him best as Bernard on "Lost", though you may also know him as the arrogant Dr. Jack Kayson on "ER" or the evil lawyer Holland Manners on "Angel".

Susan Walters (Jane Holden): She looked familiar but I couldn't place her until I looked her up on the IMDB: She was the woman on "Seinfeld" whose name rhymes with a female body part (Mulva?)

Kenneth Johnson (Joseph): Fans of "The Shield" will recognize him as Detective Curtis "Lemonhead" Lemansky.

Mageina Tovah (Crystal): You might remember her from "Joan of Arcadia" or more likely as Usula, the landlord's daughter who had a crush on Peter Parker in "Spider-Man 2". Her IMDB profile describes her as an "Extremely slender actress who usually plays attractive but clumsy young girls with unrequited crushes", which seems pretty accurate.

Dale Dickey (Reba Dautry, the foster mom): The moment I saw her, I recognized her as "Patty the daytime hooker" from "My Name is Earl". Her character here makes Patty look positively angelic, huh? I'd love to have heard her say something like "Swear to God, I even pulled out my good boob!" ;D

The episode was directed by Roxann Dawson, who directed my favorite episode "A Perfect Day" earlier this season. I wonder if she's a fan of the Spider-Man movies cause both episodes feature an actor from one of the movies: Jack Betts (the older doctor in "A Perfect Day") was one of the ill-fated Oscorp board members in the first movie while Mageina Tovah (see above) was in the second.

[BAM]

Wow, there have been such differences of opinions on this episode!!

I voted for excellent. It was not my favorite of the season but all in all it was up there with them. I too felt the case wasn't that strong but because it was Lilly centric I didn't really care. I have come to accept that they just can't fit it all in. You can't have all the characters centrally in an episode as there are too many 'central' characters now, have a good case and it be full of Lilly, so I am more than happy when an episode sacrifices the other characters to have a Lilly centric episode. I also understand that if they were all Lilly centric episode then KM will get burnt out and won’t want to do cold case anymore so I will enjoy them when they come around.

I loved reading 'Pass the Remote' TVFan and agree with your comments. You bring up some good points that I hadn’t thought of like the comment about it not being able to be fixed relating to Lilly's relationship with Stillman.

I do agree that the case part was a little unbelievable in that they couldn't correctly ID the body since the case was in 1995, and that that the detectives/coroners who missed the finger printing part of the initial investigation should be in more trouble than Lilly!

I too liked Joseph from what we saw of him (which wasn't that much)! I would like to see him back again next season to see where the writers want to take it. I don't really see how he couldn't return with Lilly practically admitting that she loved him, risking her career for him (which we still don't know what will happen) and finally going to his house at the end! I do hope the writers take us for the ride where it left off and not take it 3-4 months down the track in season 4.

I agree with all of your post Sonny (and usually do). Lilly decided in 'Beautiful Little Fool' that she didn't want to be alone anymore and that she could change, which is what I believe we are seeing her doing. In previous seasons we would have seen Lilly run a mile in this situation. Lilly's judgment is definitely clouded by this 'love at first sight', but I think it is good. We have not seen Lilly happy for most of the season and it will be good to see her smile again if that's where it goes. In season 1, we all liked the little teasing and comments the guys gave Lilly about dating Kite as it was a bit of fun and lightened up the mood. For that to happen again Lilly needs to do something other than work! There is nothing wrong if a man makes her happy (that does not make her weak) and it seems he likes a woman that is passionate about her work??!!

Having said all that about Joseph I still have my fingers crossed for Kite's return as I like Josh Hopkins and Kite's character and I would love a reaction from the phone call – one can still hope!

Anyway...this has turned out longer than expected. All in all, I really enjoyed the episode and look forward to seeing how it plays out in season 4!